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1 Hawai’ian Wildfires of 2023 Amy DiToto Department of Social Work, Walden University SOCW 6336: Crisis, Trauma, and Response Dr. Stephanie Rose March 17, 2023

2 Hawaiian Wildfires of 2023 A crisis is an event or situation that is often time-limited but causes distress as it exceeds the coping mechanisms and resources available to an individual (James & Gilliland, 2017). A crisis can affect an individual, family, group, nation, or world due to events or situations such as rape, natural disaster, war, mass violence, or a pandemic. In the case of natural disasters, multiple people are impacted with the potential for the effects to be felt for years to come as is the case for the wildfires in Maui, Hawai’i. The crisis On August 7, 2023, the island of Maui, Hawai’i suffered devastating losses in one of the worst wildfires since 1871 and the deadliest natural disaster in Hawai’i’s history (Omer, 2023). The wildfires lasted six days before they were contained (Omer, 2023). The wildfire resulted in the deaths of at least 97 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes, affected 800 businesses and more than 7,000 employees (ʻOihana et al., 2023; Hassan & Betts, 2023). Moreover, the Historic District of Lahaina, where the former Royal Capital was located, has been destroyed and with it, much of the cultural history of Native Hawai’ians (Omer, 2023). This loss has the potential to affect Native Hawai’ians sense of identity and could also cause further distress as the indigenous population. In an interview after the fires, local individuals discussed the impact of the loss noting that Native Hawai’ians lost their place of worship, the community meeting place, priceless artifacts, and rare books, and guides from their ancestors to help them fight for ownership of their land (Mehta, 2023). Furthermore, the wildfires impacted the economy of residents o n the island of Maui. The island’s major source of revenue, especially in the historic area of Lahaina, is tourism (Omer, 2023). Due to the wildfires, tourism has declined, and given the timeframe it will take to rebuild, the area could be affected for many years (ʻOihana et al., 2023). The wildfires were declared a national disaster on August 10, 2023 which resulted in funding and aid being provided to help

3 the survivors which includes mental health, underinsured homeowners assistance, rental assistance for 18 months, as well as other resources as needed (The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2023). Even with grants, funding, and assistance, it is still estimated to take years before all the homes, businesses, and tourist sites are rebuilt. The people Many people were affected by the wildfires in Maui ranging from those traveling to the island, those living on the island, and those responding to help with the fires and recovery. According to reports, more than 14,000 tourists were evacuated from the island and 7,100 displaced individuals were being housed in hotels and other short-term rentals (Hassan & Betts), 2023). Likewise, 340 first responders as well as 50 canine units were deployed to assist with the wildfires, to identify human remains, and to help survivors meet their current needs (Hassan & Betts, 2023). To date, 97 individuals have been declared dead, and 89 individuals have been identified using DNA evidence (Hassan & Betts, 2023). After six weeks, Lahaina was reopened to individuals with proof of residency and a permit to assess the damage. It is estimated that it will cost 6 billion dollars to rebuild, and the island will lose approximately 11 million dollars per day due to lost tourism revenue (‘Oihana et al., 2023). Assessment James and Gilliland (2017) noted that assessment is overarching and ongoing throughout a crisis, and it is important to assess client functioning in three categories: affective, behavioral, and cognitive. In the face of a crisis, it is important to assess the severity of the crisis and the needs quickly with the understanding that there is no time for in-depth diagnostics or complete histories (James & Gilliland, 2017). Multiple assessments exist, but some are more effective for use after a natural disaster than others. One assessment that could be used with survivors of the wildfire is the Triage Assessment Form Systems which is described as a rapid assessment used to quickly assess the severity of the crisis on affective, behavioral, and cognitive domains (James & Gilliland,

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